Earth-moving apparatus.



PATENTED SEPT. 6, 1904.

D. M. NESBIT. EARTH MOVING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24, 1904.

N0 MODEL.

UNTTED STATES Patented September 6, 1904.

DAVID M. NESBIT, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

EARTH-MOVlNG APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 769,561, dated September 6, 1904.

Application filed February 24, 190 Serial No. 195,014. (No model.)

To all whmn, it 7IL(L 7/ concern:

Be it known that 1, DAVID M. NEsBIT, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vashington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Earth- Moving Apparatus, of which the followingis a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings. This invention relates to earth-moving apparatus adapted for use in grading and similar operations, and has particular reference to that class of apparatus wherein a series of earth scrapers or scoops are operatively connected to an endless chain or cable which is arranged to draw them back and forth over the surface being graded.

One object of the invention is to so construct the scrapers that whether right side up or inverted they will move in a line at one side of the propelling chain or cable and not thereunder.

A further object is to provide means for automatically reversing or righting the scrapers after they have been dumped and as they approach the loading position.

Still a further object is to provide for reversing the scrapers or turning them around coincidently with the turning' of the actuating means at the end of its line of travel.

\Vith these and other objects in view, as will presently appear, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of apparatus hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is aside view of earth-movingapparatus constructed and arranged in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the turn-table. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are similar views of the mechanism for automatically tipping or reversing the scrapers. Fig. 7 is adetail view of a portion of the endless chain and driving sheave therefor. Figs. 8 and 9 are detail views of the scrapers.

Referring to the drawings, 2 designates an endless chain which is movable around horizontal sheaves 3 and 3. These sheaves are journaled or supported at their upper ends only in frames t, the shaft of sheave 3 being provided with pulley 5, to which power may be applied, or the same may be imparted to the apparatus in any other suitable manner. Frames 4 are preferably arranged to move on tracks 6, which are laid along opposite sides of the surface being graded, whereby the apparatus may be readily moved thereover as maybe required to keep it in proper working position. The tracks may be so arranged as to hold or brace the lower portions of the frames, while their upper portions may be secured by suitable guy-lines 7.

The body of each of scrapers or scoops 8 is of usual construction and is equipped with the customary handles 8. I prefer, however, to provide the scraper with a detachable lip or edge 9, which is riveted thereto, as shown, and which may be renewed when worn out. The greatest wear is at this edge, which enters the ground when loading, and many scrapers as now constructed are discarded after their edges become boldly worn through. In other respects they are in good condition. \Vith the detachable or renewable edge herein proposed the life of the scraper is prolonged at small cost, the expense of a new edge being trifling as compared with the cost of a new Scraper.

The bail 10, by which the scraper is drawn and upon which it turns in usual manner, is preferably of V form with one side or angle 11 shorter than the other, so as to place draftloop 10 at one side of the longitudinal center of the scraper and cause the same to drag at one side of line 2, to which it is connected by towing-chain 12, and hence free to load and unload without interfering with said line. The movement of the scraper with respect to its propelling means may be accomplished by the described formation of bail 10 or by equipping the scraper with suitable ground-engaging steering means, or by both. Such steering means may be variously embodied without departing from my invention, though the preferred form thereof and that here shown consists of one or more keel strips or runners 13, secured to the under side of the scraper and extending rearward from edge 9 and disposed obliquely thereto in such manner as to deflect the scraper outward or away from line 2.

Two of these strips may be used to advantage, as their action is more positive than one, and, furthermore, they reinforce or stiffen the scraper-bottom and save it from much wear. The strips or runners preferably taper to a point beneath edge 9 and do not retard the loading operation.

Endless chain 2 may be sustained from contact with the ground by idler-rollers 14., and in connection therewith the diagonal guides 15 may be employed for deflecting the scrapers therearound if by accident they should not be traveling sufficiently at one side of the rollers to avoid them. For deflecting the scraper when inverted, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, I construct the shorter arm 11 of bail 10 with the depending plate-like projection 11, which when the scraper is inverted or dumped operates to deflect the same sufficiently to avoid rollers 14:, the action thereof being the same as strips 13 when the scraper is upright. Rollers 14 maybe dispensed with, and if so the keel-like extension 11 may be omitted.

Sheaves 3 and 3' are unsupported at their under side, so that the towing-chains 12 are free to pass thereunder as their points of connection with chain 2 pass around the sheaves. The scrapers are preferably in inverted or dumped position when they reach the power end of the apparatus, and are thus tracked beneath chain 2 from one line of travel to the other. Before reaching the opposite or loading end of the apparatus I preferably cause the inverted scrapers to pass beneath two depending upwardly-swinging loops 16, into which the forwardly-projecting handles 8 of the scrapers extend as the latter move forward, thus lifting the scrapers and automatically righting the same. Loops 16 are here shown depending from a frame 17, into and through which the scrapers are drawn, and this frame may be utilized as a tensioning means for chain 2 by mounting therein the sheave 18, over which the chain passes. Frame 17 may be staked to the ground and also secured by guy-lines 19, and may be moved from time to time, as may be necessary to maintain the endless chain properly tensioned. The chain may be lengthened or shortened to secure the desired tension, thus doing away with the tensioning means just described.

A turn-table 20 is arranged in the path of the scrapers adjacent the loading end of the apparatus and is so positioned that the scrapers are drawn thereon and preferably partly thereover by the time the towing-chains 12 reach sheave 3, when there is no other forward pull on the scrapers until their direction of movement has been reversed. Table 20 turns on a suitable bearing 21, which may be arranged on stake 22, driven into the ground. The bearing holds the table at an incline, and each scraper is drawn upward over the inclined plane or guideway 23 to the highest side or portion of the table, and before towingchain 12 becomes slack by passing around sheave 3 the scraper has been so positioned on the table that its weight causes the same to make a half-turn and carry the scraper beneath and to the opposite side of cable 2, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, at which point the scraper is presented in proper position for loading. The turning of each scraper is thus accomplished automatically while its towing-chain is straightening out after making the turn, and hence in much less space than would be required by the towing-chain to so position it. This turn-table feature of the invention operating to reverse the position of devices, being propelled by an endless or other chain or cable, may be useful in other arts, and I do not confine myself to the application thereof herein disclosed.

The arrangement is preferably such that the loaded scrapers are drawn toward the power end of the apparatus with the point of unloading or dumping adjacent said end, as will be understood. As the grading progresses the apparatus is moved forward over tracks 6 and is thus maintained in working position.

The number of scrapers employed will vary with the length of the apparatus and the proportions of the grading or other earth-moving operation in hand. Whether their number be few or many the services of only two men are necessary for operating the scrapers, one for loading and the other for unloading or dumping the same. Plows (not shown) may be attached to and propelled by chains 2 and 12 in manner similar to the scrapers.

While I have here shown an endless chain operating on chain-sheaves of usual construction, I do not confine myself thereto, as wire rope or cable may be used. The chain or cable may be made in sections, so that its length may be varied as may be required.

I do not claim to be the first to propose an endless scraper-moving apparatus; but

What I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An earth-scraper adapted to be drawn forward, and means carried by the scraper constructed and arranged to engage the ground and automatically steer the scraper in a path at one side of the line of draft.

2. An earth-scraper, and means constructed and arranged to cause the scraper to move at one side of its line of draft.

3. An earth-scraper, and ground-engaging means carried by the scraper and constructed and arranged to cause the scraper to move at one side of its line of draft.

4. The combination of a scraper, a draftloop, and earth-engaging scoop-guiding means carried by the loop.

5. The combination of separated sheaves, an endless line extending therearound, devices adapted to be moved by the line, and means for turning said devices around coincidentally with the turning of the line around the sheaves.

IIO

6. The combination of separated sheaves having vertical axes, an endless line extending therearound, devices adapted to be moved by the line, and means operative coincidentally with the turning of the line around the sheaves, for moving said devices from one side of the line to the other and for reversing the direction of said devices.

7. In earth-moving apparatus, a scraper, propelling means therefor, and means for causing the scraper to move at one side of the draft-line of the propelling means.

8. An earth-scraper having a bottom projection arranged obliquely to the direction of movement of the scraper.

9. In earth-moving apparatus, the combination of actuating means, a scraper, a towingline connecting the scraper to the actuating means, and means constructed and arranged to cause the scraper to move in a path at one side of the line of movement of the actuating means.

10. In earth-moving apparatus, the combination of an actuating-line, a scraper, a towing-line connecting the scraper to the actuating-line,and a heel on the bottom of the scraper adapted to cause the latter to move in a path at one side of the actuating-line.

11. In earth-moving apparatus, the combination of a vertically-tilting earth-scraper, and means arranged in the path of the scraper and adapted to engage and right the same from inverted position.

12. In earth-moving apparatus, the combination of a tilting scraper, handles on the scraper adapted to be forwardly projected when the scraper is tilted or inverted, and vertically-swinging loops adapted to embrace said handles and right the scraper as the same is moved thereunder.

13. In earth-moving apparatus, the combination of a vertically-tilting earthscraper, a frame beneath which the scraper is adapted to pass, vertieally-swinging loops depending from the frame and adapted to embrace the scraper-handles and right the scraper as it moves forward.

11. In earth-moving apparatus, the combination of an endless scraper-actuating line, scrapers adapted to be moved thereby, a laterally-adjustable frame in the path of the scrapers and through which the latter are adapted to move, and a sheave in said frame for the actuating-line.

15. The combination of movable devices,and a turn-table arranged at an incline to the direction of movement of said devices and adapted at its higher side to receive said devices and turn them by force of gravity to the lower side thereof.

16. The combination of an actuating-line, devices adapted to bemoved thereby,and turning means in the path of said devices constructed and arranged to turn them around.

17. The combination of an actuating-line, devices adapted to be moved thereby, a turntable arranged at an incline in the path of said devices and adapted at its highest side to receive the same and turn them around by force of gravity.

18. In earth-moving apparatus, the combination of an endless line, earth-movingscrapers secured thereto, and a turn-table arranged in the path of the scrapers and at one end of their line of travel and adapted to receive the scrapers and turn them around.

19. In earth-moving apparatus, the combination of an endless line, earth-movingscrapers secured thereto, a turn-table positioned in the path of the scrapers at one end of their line of travel, the turn-table being arranged at an incline and adapted on its highest side to receive the scrapers and turn them by gravity to the opposite side of the endless line.

20. In earth-moving apparatus, the combination of an endless line, towing-lines con. nected thereto, earth-scrapers secured to the towing-lines and adapted to move in a path at one side of the endless line, a turn-table in the path of the scrapers and at one end of their line of travel, said table being arranged at an incline, and a guideway for directing the scrapers to the highest side of the table, whereby the weight of the scrapers causes the table to turn by force of gravity and carry the scrapers to the opposite side of the endless line.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DAVID M. NESBIT.

IVitnesses:

HENRY F. BROADBERT, JOHN E. Form. 

